Where did you serve and what did you do?

I served in the United States Marine Corps with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, CAAT platoon as an 0352. I deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the invasion, Operation Iraqi Freedom, where I was a part of a variety of missions including combat patrols and convoy security missions. I was wounded in an IED attack during counter ambush patrols in Al Haswah, Iraq July 20th 2003, that ultimately led to the injuries I still live with today.

Tell us how your dog is helping you continue Still Serving in your community.

In 2012, after receiving my service dog, Atlas the Wonderdog, my life changed in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Atlas wasn’t just a loyal companion—he became my lifeline as I navigated the invisible wounds of war: traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and the daily struggles of reintegration after combat. His presence gave me the strength and clarity to co-found The Battle Buddy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing highly trained service dogs to other veterans who needed the same support I found in Atlas. For years, Atlas served proudly by my side, both at home and in the public eye. Together, we traveled the country advocating for veterans and demonstrating the profound impact service dogs can have. In 2017, Atlas was honored as Service Dog of the Year, a recognition that reflected not just his devotion to me, but the hope and healing he inspired in countless others. He officially retired a few years later, but his influence never faded. Atlas’s legacy lives on through The Battle Buddy Foundation and now through a new chapter: the Atlas and Friends children’s book series. These educational stories introduce kids to the incredible world of working dogs, teaching them about service, loyalty, and the unique ways animals help people. The first book, Atlas and Friends, begins that journey, sharing lessons that Atlas himself helped me discover and that continue to touch lives long after his retirement. www.tbbf.org www.facebook.com/OriginalBattleBuddy

Why do you do it?

I do it because Atlas gave me my life back, and now it’s my mission to carry forward his legacy so that other veterans, families, and children can experience the same hope and healing he gave me.